Women Leader of the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Jumoke Okoya-Thomas has declared that the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the party’s governorship candidate in Lagos, Jimi Agbaje have been rejected by women in the state.
Speaking to newsmen on the backdrop of the 2019 General Elections yesterday, Okoya-Thomas said she would not relent in her efforts of mobilising the women in the state to support the Presidential candidate of the APC, President Muhammadu Buhari and its governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu.
Okoya-Thomas, who was a member of the Federal House of Representatives for three consecutive terms, told journalists that all hands were on deck in Lagos to ensure victory for the APC in the elections.
According to her, the women in the party and the generality of the women in the state are prepared to cast their votes for the APC in the forthcoming general elections.
“We the women in Lagos State are fully prepared for the 2019 general elections. I can assure you that I have been mobilising the women with my team to ensure victory for the APC across board in the elections.
“Nigerians have realized that the APC has all it takes to move the country and the state forward more than it has done in the past.
“Our women are fully ready for the elections and I can tell you that no stone would be left unturned to ensure victory for APC both at the federal level and in the state in the forthcoming general elections,” she said.
Okoya-Thomas emphasized that the APC had laudable programmes for market women, professionals, artisans, civil servants, housewives, widows, young women and others, adding that the party would not disappoint on its “Next Level agenda.
The Women Leader stressed that the party had been demonstrating its love for the women with its “Trader Moni” Project, which she said is being applauded locally and internationally, and that the best was yet to come for the womenfolk under the APC.
She further said that the party would continue to give the women more representation in the government both at the state and at the federal levels, and that she would work with the state government, under the leadership of Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu, to promote the cause of the women and ensure gender equality in all ramifications.
Okoya-Thomas, who commended President Buhari for his concern for the women, revealed that the party has agreed to give the women all the necessary support and protect them against all forms of all violence.
She then used the opportunity to urge the women and all Nigerians to collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) and cast their votes enmasse for the APC.
Meanwhile, Okoya-Thomas has demanded a written apology and retraction from Thisday Newspapers over a false and malicious publication against her by the newspaper in its publication of Sunday 6th January, 2019.
This was contained in a letter dated Monday January 7, 2019 written by the lawyers of Okoya-Thomas, GMO Legal, Solicitors, Advocates, Notaries located at Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1, Lekki, Lagos.
The letter, which was addressed to the Managing Director, Thisday Newspapers Limited, 25, Creek Road, Apapa Lagos, was entitled; “False and Malicious Libel of Omoba Olajumoke Okoya-Thomas-Letter Before Action.”
The letter was signed by Mr. George M. Oguntade (SAN) and both the Editor of Thisday Newspapers, Mr. Bolaji Adebiyi and the writer of the story, Mr. Adebayo Adeoye were copied.
The said offensive publication appeared on page 62 of Thisday The Sunday Newspaper of Sunday 6th January, 2019 under the caption “About Jumoke Okoya-Thomas and Her Wild Lifestyle.”
The letter states; “By the publication, our client has been portrayed as a person who indulges in excess consumption of alcohol and acts irresponsibly publicly. The publication further portrays our client as a violent and aggressive person, who engages in scuffles and aggressive conduct.
“Its publication was calculated to injure the sterling reputation of our client in the eyes of right thinking members of the society, especially given her position as a prominent politician and role model,” the counsels wrote.
Thomas also demanded, through her lawyers that the publication should “immediately cease and desist their unlawful defamation of our client and provide us with a prompt written assurance within 48 hours of receipt of this letter that you will cease from further defamation of our client.”
The counsels however, advised that if the publication did not comply with the request contained in the letter, Okoya-Thomas would immediately proceed to court against the newspapers to seek inta alia declaratory and injunctive relief as well as monetary damages and costs.
